Entering the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will cost you more sailing ships.
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, the company’s Orlando theme parks, have raised ticket prices, just weeks after Walt Disney World raised annual pass prices for its fans.
The cost to go to one Universal park now ranges from $119 to $179, depending on the day. (This is for entry to one park, and movement between the two is not permitted.) Before the increase, prices ranged between $109 and $159.
For people who want to hop between parks, the price jumped to between $174 and $234, from $164 to $214.
“Our pricing reflects the amazing, world-class entertainment experiences we continue to offer our guests, and with our variable, date-based pricing model, guests have more flexibility when planning their destination for a visitor and can choose the best time to visit that best suits their needs,” Universal said in a statement.
Annual passes for Universal parks have not been increased, although the company did raise prices at the two higher tiers of those parks earlier this year.
Universal Orlando is in the midst of expansion in Central Florida. A new 750-acre theme park is expected to open in 2025 called Epic Universe, which is centered around DreamWorks Animation characters, including Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. This expansion will also bring another Harry Potter and the company’s “Super Nintendo World” expansion to Florida.
This announcement put Disney on the defensive. Earlier this year, it announced plans to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years on capital expenditures at Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products division, which oversees all of its theme park properties. This is double the amount you had previously planned to spend.
